Sock or Not

Project #1504 on iSENSEProject.org

"Sock or Not" is a physical science experiment investigating the temperature differences between an insulated and an uninsulated glass bottle with hot water in it.

Adapted from Vernier Sample Lesson: "A Good Sock".

Original lesson plan can be found at: http://www.vernier.com/files/sample_labs/MSV-09-COMP-good_sock.pdf

*All data utilized is authentic/original, so there is no URL to an "original" data set.

Objectives

In this experiment, you will:

• Use a computer to measure temperature.

• Calculate temperature changes.

• Make organize data in a graph.

• Compare the insulating properties of cotton.

• Investigate the effect of water on insulation. 

Procedure 

1. Obtain and wear goggles.

2. Connect the Temperature Probes. Start the Vernier data-collection program and open a new experiment.

3. Get two identical glass bottles and two one-hole stoppers that properly fit the bottles. Carefully fit the stoppers onto the Temperature Probes.

4. Completely fill the bottles with hot water. Insert the stoppers and Temperature Probes into the bottles. Use a paper towel to dry the outside of the bottles. Note: Steps 4, 5, and 6 must be done quickly for good results!

5. Cover Bottle 2 with a sock. Leave Bottle 1 uncovered.

6. Watch the temperature readings in the meter. When both Temperature Probes have warmed to the temperature of the water (both temperature readings have stopped rising), click to begin data collection.

7. Data collection will end after 10 minutes. When data collection has ended, click the export data button, and rename your files "sock bottle.csv" and "uncovered bottle.csv". Make sure your file names end in .csv!! 

8. Then search for project 1504, enter the contributor key (cgs1234) and then click upload file. The program should search for and match the data you have just saved as a .csv

Guiding Questions:

-What happened to the temperature of the water in the bottle covered with the sock? What happened to the temperature of the water in the bottle left uncovered? What conclusions can you draw based on this information?

-What was the purpose of the glass bottle without a sock on it?

-Group your data by "combined set". Has this changed the overall visualization? Why or why not?

-Organize your data as a scatter plot. As a bar graph. As a table. What type of information do you get from each visualization? Which visualization makes the most sense? Why?